Army Recruit From Arkansas

I am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Ryan and BrotherJohn the Armybeats working for old man Coleman by a mile. Tellthem to join up quickbefore all of the places are filled.

I was restless at first because you got to stay in bedtill nearly 6 a.m.but I am getting so I like to sleep late. Tell Ryanand John all you do beforebreakfast is smooth your cot, and shine some things.No hogs to slop, feedto pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay.Practically nothing.

Men got to shave but it is not so bad, there's warmwater. Breakfast isstrong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs,bacon, etc., but kind of weakon chops, potatoes, ham, steak, fried eggplant, pieand other regular food,but tell Ryan and John you can always sit by the twocity boys that live oncoffee. Their food plus yours holds you until noonwhen you get fed again.It's no wonder these city boys can't walk much.

We go on "route marches," which the platoon sergeantsays are long walks toharden us. If he thinks so, it's not my place to tellhim different. A "routemarch" is about as far as to our mailbox at home. Thenthe city guys getsore feet and we all ride back in trucks.

The country is nice but awful flat The sergeant islike a school teacher. Henags a lot. The Captain is like the school board.Majors and colonels justride around and frown. They don't bother you none.

This next will kill Ryan and John with laughter. Ikeep getting medals forshooting. I don't know why. The bulls-eye is near asbig as a chipmunk headand don't move, and it ain't shooting at you like theMathison boys at home.All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hitit. You don't even loadyour own cartridges. They come in boxes.

Then we have what they call hand-to-hand combattraining. You get to wrestlewith them city boys. I have to be real careful though,they break real easy.It ain't like fighting with that ole bull at home. I'mabout the best theygot in this except for that Tug Jordan from over inLogan. I only beathim once. He joined up the same time as me, but I'monly 5'10" and 145 poundsand he's 6'8" and near 300 pounds dry.

Be sure to tell Ryan and John to hurry and joinbefore other fellers getonto this setup and come stampeding in.